5 Quick Sunscreen Tips

Choosing the right sunscreen isn’t as easy as grabbing one off the shelf from your grocery store or pharmacy. Here’s how to choose the right sunscreen and how you can maximize it’s effectiveness:

1. Choose a Broad Spectrum Sunscreen – Broad Spectrum means it protects you from both UVA and UVB radition from the sun’s harmful rays. You can spot it on the sunscreen bottle’s label if it’s FDA-approved Broad Spectrum.

2. 30 SPF of Higher – The AAD, or the American Academy of Dermatology, recommends that the broad spectrum sunscreen you apply should be 30 SPF of higher for maximum protection.

3. Water-Resistance – Make sure your chosen sunscreen is at least water-resistant. However, this is only temporary as most water-resistant sunscreens have a limit of 40 to 80 minutes.

4. Application and Re-application – Apply sunscreen generously to your skin roughly 15 minutes before you go outdoors EVERY DAY. Your skin gets exposed to the sun’s rays whenever you go out so make sure you protect it. Sunscreen also wears off after some time because of sweat, so re-apply every few hours.

5. The Best Way to Protect Yourself – The best way to protect yourself from the sun’s harmful UVB and UVA rays is to try and stay indoors when the sun is highest in the sky.